Pocket seal presses



April 19, 1955 c. PRlEsMEYl-:R 2,706,447

POCKET SEAL PRESSES Filed Sept. 14, 1950 '4 uli/1111111111.vrllllllllllfUnited States Patent O POCKET SEAL PRESSES Charles Priesmeyer, ParkRidge, Ill., assignor to Meyer & Wenthe, Inc., Chicago, Ill., acorporation of Illinois Application September 14, 1950, Serial No.184,792 Claims. (Cl. 101--3) The present invention relates to paperembossing devices and particularly to pocket-type seal pressesprevalently used by corporations and notaries public.

In conventional pocket seal presses employing a roller on the workingend of a manual lever to force one of the press die members intopressure engagement with the other die member, it has been found thatthe leaf spring element supporting the moving die does not permit thedies to work with equal pressure over the whole surface of the diesduring the embossing movement.

If the spring is light enough to permit the dies to seek pressureequalizing positions, the spring may not always hold the dies in exactcoincidence and the shifting point of rolling contact of the rollertransmitting the squeezing pressure of the lever becomes a decidedfactor in augmenting unbalance and possible relative shifting of the diemembers.

lf the spring is strong enough to assure proper coincidence, then thedies do not move towards each other with equal increment of distancesover the entire die or press area with the result that the dies may tearthe paper over certain areas which are engaged rst, or the heaviest andthe remaining area of the impression is wrinkled and non-uniform inappearance.

Legal documents requiring a seal should have a sharp impression thereonwhich is uniform over the entire area with none of the paper severed ortorn from the body. In order to provide sharp impressions over longperiods of wear, the dies should be of maximum depth and clearness butnot deep enough to tear holes in the paper if the embossing pressure isapplied uniformly. If the closing of the dies is unequal or the pressureunequally distributed, a portion of the paper will receive advancedeformation over a certain area and the remaining area will not supportthe paper under its own pressure distortion nor be sufficiently strongto prevent leaching and wrinkling of the other portion of the die area.Uniformity and perfect embossing is sacrificed and a tearing of thepaper, particularly with new seals, occurs repeatedly.

Moreover, when heavy springs are used to support the moving die of theseal members, the assembly, servicing and use of the press is notentirely satisfactory. The spring has to be put in place without tensionand a wedge, screw, or other means thereafter driven into place toestablish the die opening spring tension. The spring being a hardenedpiece of metal scores or digs into the wedge, or if held with a screw orother conventional means it has a tendency to loosen. Moreover, if thewedge or screw is not located in the exact position necessary toestablish the correct operation of the dies then performance afterservicing in the field becomes a customer problem.

Even the best die makes no better imprint than the frame in which itworks permits it, and with present-day improved die making techniques ofthe finest order, such is wasted if the seal frame does not provideperfect alignment and mating pressures.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improvedpress actuator for paper embossing dies which assure parallelism betweenthe die members during their embossing operation and equally distributedpressures over the entire die area.

A further object of the invention is to provide a die holder and diesupport relationship in which the opening and closing tension on themovable die member is carried at a moving point which shifts inconjunction with ice the shift of the point of roller which applies theclosing force and maintains parallelism between the dies throughout theembossing operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a predetermined engagementrelationship between the frame and die supporting elements which iseasily established and released, yet is maintained constant during itsoperation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a frame assembly inwhich the effective relationship between main relative moving parts isdetermined by permanently assembled elements which constitute withrespect to each other non-varying reference elements for initiallymating the dies and thereafter maintaining perfect coordination of thedies throughout their life and under any and all repairs or servicing ofthe device.

The invention is also characterized by structure and a relationship ofparts which is easily made, assembled, operated and serviced without theparts slipping, loosening, scoring, or damaging one another during theirassembly and use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction in adevice of the class described wherein the die holder is easily removableyet carried and guided in exact position by an element mounted on theframe as a permanent part thereof.

The invention also contemplates an improved die mounting in which thetop of the die can be easilyI oriented in any angular relationship tolocate the imprint in any predetermined position, and this relationshipso maintained throughout the life of the die.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of a very light andcompact pocket seal which is inexpensive to manufacture and service andruggedly constructed for long and satisfactory operation.

These being among the objects of the invention, further objects andadvantages will become apparent from the drawing and the descriptionrelating thereto in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation in medial vertical section of a pocket sealshowing the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is an exploded View of the die, die shoe and! die holderassembly;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the spring clip elements shown inFig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modification of the die holder.

The invention contemplates a frame 10, U-shaped in cross section,pivotally supporting a cradle 11 as mounted permanently on a cross rivet12 which in turn rigidities and maintains the sides of the frame 10 inexact spaced relationship. A free end 13 of a die support 14 is looselyreceived between the cradle 11 and the rivet 12 and is held in place byan interlocking aperture 15 and finger 16 arrangement to locate a die 17at the other end in exact position and support it against all movementexcept pivotally about the rivet 12. A spring clip 18 is disposedbetween the bottom of the frame 10 and the cradle 11 and when slippedinto place it engages and presses upwardly against the cradle 11 at apoint located between the rivet 12 and the die 17. This not only urgesthe free end of the die support 14 to ride hard against the rivet 12 atall times but also maintains said interlock between the aperture 15 andfinger 16 and holds the die 17 against the working end of a lever 20 andsupplies enough force to raise the lever 20 and the die 17 after animpression is completed.

More particularly, the frame 10 comprises a flat stamping, die formed tothe U-shaped cross section shown wherein the sides 19 are parallel. Theexternal convex surface of the rounded portion of the U-section providesa handle 21 and the internal concave surface serves as a channel-likeslideway 22 open at both ends to accommodate the spring clip 18 in itsmovement to and from its working position when assembled ordisassembled. At its rear end the rounded portion of the stamping isdrawn downwardly as at 23 when die formed so as to stress the stampingin more directions than one to make it rugged and easy to handle.Furthermore, the rivet 12 interconnects and supports against all strainsthe two sides 19 at a point above the downward draw to establish andmaintain an exact clearance between the sides 19 at this point.

The cradle 11 is mounted upon the rivet 12 at the time this rivet 12 isset and swings freely about the rivet on apertured ears 24 which areupturned at its side edges to rest against the sides 19 in closelyguided relationship. The forward portion of the cradle 11 is reduced inwidth to form shoulders 29 (Fig. 4) and the end is upturned to providethe finger 16 already mentioned. Between the finger 16 and the ears 24,the body portion of the cradle is reversely bent downwardly to form aU-shaped offset 25 whose rounded lower outer face affords a bearingsurface. Preferably the offset 25 is so constructed and located thatflat portions are left on each side of the offset 25 coplanar with eachother to bear and rest against the bottom face of the die support 14,but this is not entirely necessary as long as the portion of the cradle11 contacting the die support 14 on each side of the finger 16 engagesthis support on one or more lines or surfaces disposed parallel to therivet 12.

At the front end of the frame 10, the sides 19 are notched out as at 26to form an upper overhanging arm 27 and a lower arm 28. The frontportion of the lower arm 28 receives in rigidly supported relation alower die assembly comprising a block 30 and die 39 thereon whichassembly is secured in place in a suitable manner as by upset ears orsilver soldering. The upper arm 27 comprises two side members heldtogether by a front rivet 31 located near the front which also serves asa stop, and a second rivet 32 located a little to the rear of the rstrivet 31 on which is journalled the handle 20.

The handle 20 is also a heavy sheet metal stamping, die formed to aU-shaped cross section and rounding in both directions along its upperextremity to tit into the palm of a persons hand comfortably. As shownin Fig. l, the handle 20 has a latch 33 slidably mounted at its forwardend comprising an upper and lower member 34 and 35, respectively, heldin place by a rivet 36 sliding in a slot 37. Whenever the handle ispressed downwardly a predetermined distance, the latch 33 can be slidforwardly to ride over the top of the rivet 31 and employ the rivet 31as a stop to prevent separation of the dies 17 and 39 and hold thehandle 20 down. This eliminates the danger of any foreign bodyinadvertently getting between the dies when they are not in use andcausing damage to the dies.

Whenever the seal is to be used, the handle 2t) is pressed enough torelax the engagement between the latch mmber 35 and rivet 31 so that thelatch 33 can be moved by thumb rearwardly, whereupon the handle 20 isreleased and the dies 17 and 39 will separate readily to receive paperbetween them. The amount of separation is limited by a shoulder 38 onthe handle 20 also engaging the rivet 31 as a stop.

Between the sides of the handle 20 at its front end this handle carriesa roller 40 journalled on a transversely disposed pin 41. The locationof this roller is slightly to the rear of the rivet 32 and below thelevel thereof so that downward movement of the handle 2t) drives theroller 40 arcuately downwardly and forwardly slightly as the dies 17 and39 mesh and close.

The die holder 14 supported at one end on the cradle 11 and drivendownwardly by the roller 40 at the other end will now be described. Inthe preferred embodiment shown in Fig. l the die support 14 is a heavysheet metal stamping rounded as at the head 43 to follow concentricallythe edges of the die 17 at the front end and cut back or narrowed alongparallel lines rearwardly of the head 43 to define edges which t withclose clearances between the sides 19 in guided relationship. At itsrear end the holder 14 is further narrowed as at 44 to be receivedbetween the ears 24 on the cradle and also is apertured as at 15 toreceive the linger 16 snugly therein.

At the center of the rounded head 43 of the die holder' 14, a round hole45 is punched out having three small circumferentially spaced grooves 49in the walls thereof. The hole 45 is provided so as to receive insupporting relation a cylindrical stud 46 which is fashioned on the topof the upper die 17 to locate and hold this die in place. To do this thetop of the seal in the upper die 17 is oriented with respect to the diesupport arm 14 with the stud 46 in the hole 45 and the stud 46 isprick-punched opposite each one of a plurality of grooves 49 to swagestud stock into these grooves. This not only holds the die 17 in correctorientation throughout the life of the seal but prevents it from evercoming loose.

Also in the rounded head 43 are punched two holes 47 in longitudinalalignment with the hole 45 and the aperture 15 to mount a wear plate orshoe 48 (Fig. 5). Two pins 50 extending downwardly from the shoe 48 arereceived in the holes 47 to locate the shoe 48 on top of the die support14 where it tracks the roller 40.

ln the embodiment 14a of the die support shown in Fig. 7, the connectingportion between a rounded end 43a and the aperture 15 is narrowedappreciably to provide for a slight flexure of the support as wheresmaller and lighter seals are desired. The spring action permits of somemanufacturing variation and the use of the principles of the inventionin even smaller seals.

Referring now to the construction of the spring clip 18 shown in Figs.l, 3, 4 and 6, this element has a rounded base portion at 51 which willmate and slide snugly in the channel or slideway 22 of the frame 10 anda reversely bent end 52 includes a spring tongue provided with atransverse groove 53 near its free end preferably with a portion of thefree end beyond the groove 53 higher than the portion of the springtongue on the other side of the groove. This groove mates with thebearing surface on the offset 25 of the cradle. An end wall 54 is alsoprovided against which a driftpin can be driven when assembling theseal.

It will be observed that the spring member 52 is com` paratively short,and acts upon the cradle near the rivet The pressure imposed upon thespring 52 is substantially heavy under resting conditions and increaseswith downward movement of the die holder. In this connection it will beseen that the roller 40 engages the shoe 48 over a very short pathextending from the center of the die 17 to a point located a little tothe rear of this center of the die.

In assembly, with the lower die holder in place and the cradle 11 on therivet 12, the handle 20 is first mounted on the pin 32 between the arms27 and moved to its highest point of travel. The frame 10 is then readyto receive the upper die support 14 and die 17 and the lower die 30. Theupper die 17 is made, oriented in the support 14, and fastened there byprick-punching the stud 46 as already described. The shoe 48 is mountedin place on top of the upper die support 14. The spring clip 18 is thenstarted into place from the rear, and as the leading edge of the spring52 engages the bearing surface of the offset 25, the die support 14 ispushed rearwardly until the finger 16 enters the aperture 15. Thereafterthe spring clip 18 is further advanced manually as far as possible andit will hold that position until a driftpin is brought to bear againstthe end wall 54 and the clip is pushed home to carry this clip forwardlyuntil the bearing surface of the offset 25 seats in the groove 53. Thespring tension placed upon the spring clip 18 in doing this forces therear end of the die support 14 solidly against the rivet 12 and movesthis die holder and the handle 2t) to their upper limit of movement.

After this is done the lower mating die 39 is nested in the upper die 17and a sealer (not shown) is inserted on the upper face of the lower dieholder 30. The handle 20 is then depressed to carry the lower die 39downwardly in full orientation with the upper die 17 to squeeze thesealer between the lower die 39 and its holder. The die assembly is thenbrought to a mild heat to adhere the parts with the sealer, and thepocket seal is ready for use in the conventional manner. When desired toclean or service the die, the driftpin is inserted in the front of theframe 10 under the bottom die 30 and driven against the spring clip 18to dislodge it rearwardly, whereupon the cradle oiiset 25 slips from thegroove 53 and the cradle finger 16 drops out of the aperture 15 and thedie support 14 can be withdrawn, cleaned, or serviced, and returned toits identical position again, as already described.

Geometrically speaking, the rivet 12 is located with its lower edge ator slightly below the plane of that portion of the upper surface of thedie support 14 when it is disposed parallel with the bottom die face.The spring clip 18 exes the die support 14 only slightly and with thisarrangement the dies 17 and 39 are parallel with each other as theycontact opposite sides of the sheet to be embossed. Thereafter the finalmovement of these dies to accomplish the embossing is made with theroller 40 moving from a point slightly on the rear side of the centerline of the die 17 up to the center line point. Moreover, due to thestiffness of the die support and the lever relation applied through theforward end ofthe cradle 11 to the spring clip 18, the die support willmove appreciably downwardly also at the finger 16 during the finalmovement of the die 17. This slight shift of the point of pressureapplied by the roller 40, the work load of the dies 17 and 39, and thedownward movement of the die support 14 at -the front end maintain thedies parallel throughout the embossing operation with the end resultthat a substantially perfect embossing, uniform over the entire area, isperformed with no tearing of the paper.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, the rivet 12 is located slightlylower than its position in Fig. 1 in which position with the resiliencypresent in the die support 14a, Vthe area proximate to the aperture 15becomes the effective point for movement of the die 17 and in thisinstance the die support 14a is initially bent downwardly at a slightangle along the line 55 to afford the proper relationship.

Furthermore, it will be seen how the seal can be made in mass productionwith little manufacturing variation because the rivet 12 and cradle 11are a permanent part of the frame assembly, whereas in formerconstructions the rivet 12 had to be removable to assemble or dissemblethe seal parts. Moreover, assembly and disassembly can be had with partswhich locate themselves in correct position without loosening, slippingor scoring each other.

Having thus described the invention and i-ts several embodiments it willbe seen by those skilled in the art how the objects stated herein arefulfilled and various and further changes can be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which iscommensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a device of the class described the combination of achannel-shaped handle, a pin rigidly interconnecting the sides of thehandle, a cradle positioned-between the sides of the handle having earspivotally mounted on the pin and a portion extending forwardly betweenthe sides with a bearing on its lower side and an upturned finger at itsend, a die support extending into the handle from the front end betweenthe sides and received at one end between the ears and under the pin andhaving ari opening receiving said finger in interlocking engagement, aspring clip slidably supported in the handle;l beneath the cradle toengage the bearing in predetermined relationship and resiliently urgethe die support upwardly for maintaining said interlocking engagementand to press the die support against the pin.

2. In a device of the class described the combination of achannel-shaped frame, a rivet interconnecting the sides of the frame, acradle pivotally mounted on the rivet and positioned between -the sidesof the frame, a die support extending into the frame from the fronthaving an end located under and in contact with the rivet as a fulcrumpoint, means interlocking said die support and cradle at a point removedfrom said rivet, a spring clip slidably supported by the frame andpositioned below the cradle to resiliently engage the cradle and urgesaid end of the die support upwardly in contact with the rive-t.

3. In a device of the class described the combination of achannel-shaped frame having parallel sides, a cradle pivotally mountedon the frame extending forwardly between said sides and having a bearingon the lower side thereof, a die support extending into the framebetween the sides above said bearing and receivedv at one end ininterlocking engagement with said cradle, a clip slidably supported bythe frame and having a spring element offset downwardly to receive thebearing and to urge the die support upwardly at the point of bearing.

4. In a device of the class described the combination of a U-shapedframe member having a handle defining a channel, a pin rigidlyinterconnecting the sides of the frame, a cradle journalled on the pinand having a portion extending forwardly between the sides, said cradlehaving a bearing surface on the bottom thereof spaced from the pin, anelongated die support with one end received between the cradle and thepin, means for interlocking the cradle and die support, and a springclip slidably supported in said frame resiliently engaging said cradleat said bearing to urge the die support upwardly adjacent theinterlocking means.

5. In a device of the class described the combination of a U-shapedframe member having a handle, a pin rigidly interconnecting the sides ofthe frame near the end thereof, a cradle journalled on the pin andhaving an upwardly extending finger thereon forwardly of the pin, anelongated die support with one end received between the cradle and pinand having an aperture receiving the finger, and a spring clippositioned in said frame re j siliently engaging said cradle at a pointspaced from the pin to urge the die support against the pin and hold thefinger in the aperture.

6. A seal press comprising a frame having a pair of substantiallyparallel sides, a pin secured to the sides of the frame, a cradlepivotally mounted on the pin and positioned between the sides, a diemember,l a flexible arm for supporting the die member, said arm beinginterposed at one end between the pin and the cradle and also beingsupported at a point spaced from the interposed end by said cradle,means pivotally secured to the frame for moving the die member, and aspring member slidably supported on the frame in engagement with thecradle for resiliently urging the cradle into engagement with the exiblearm whereby the arm is exed at the point spaced from the pin.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a channelshaped handle, a pin interconnecting the sides of the handle, a cradlepositioned between the sides of the handle having ears pivotally mountedon the pin a portion extending forwardly between the sides with abearing on its lower side and an upturned finger at its end, a diesupport extending into the handle from the front end between the sidesand received at one end between the ears and under the pin having anopening receiving said finger in an interlocking engagement, aspring-clip having a base portion slidably supported in the handlebeneath the cradle and engaging the bearing in predeterminedrelationship, to urge the die support upwardly for maintaining saidinterlocking engagement and to press the die support against the pin, aportion of the free end of the tongue beyond the recess being higherthan the remaining portion of the tongue.

8. In a device of the class described the combination of achannel-shaped frame, a cradle pivotally mounted between the sidesthereof, a die support extending into the frame between the sidesthereof, and on one end of the die support having elements engaging eachother in interlocking relationship, said die support having a circularopening at one end provided with grooves terminating on the face of thesupport in the edge of said opening, a die having a boss received insaid opening with stock upset therefrom in said grooves, a spring clipslidably supported by the frame and positioned beneath the cradle toresiliently engage cradle and maintain said interlocking engagement andurge thedie support upwardly at a point between the ends thereof, saidinterlocking relationship being readily released when said spring clipis removed.

9. In a device of the class described the combination of achannel-shaped frame having a pair of substantially parallel sides, acradle member pivotally mounted on the frame between the sides thereof,a die support member supported within the frame, one of said membershaving an aperture therein spaced from one end thereof and the other ofsaid members having a finger thereon received in an interlocking withsaid aperture, a spring clip slidably supported on the frame beneath thecradle to support the cradle and resiliently urge the die supportupwardly adjacent the aperture to hold said finger in said aperture.

l0. In a device of the class described having a frame carrying a lowerdie and a pivotally mounted handle means above it, an upper die holdercomprising a stamping enlarged .at one end and having a wall defining acircular hole therethrough provided with axially disposed grooves in thesides thereof, means for pivotally supporting the reduced end of thestamping, means for urging said enlarged portion towards the handle in adirection away from said lower die, and an upper die member having aboss thereon received snugly in said hole to a depth Hush with theremote edge of the hole with stock of the boss adjacent said groovesupset into said grooves in a predetermined relationship againstrelaembossing relationship.

(References on following page) References Cited in the le of this patentUNITED STATES PATENTS Leve Dec Heliberg Jan. Eyman Oct. Willard Feb.

8 Gibson July 31, 1928 Witt Dec. 31, 1929 Priesmeyer June 4, 1900FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain May 30, 1940

